Greetings all. I headed out to Las Vegas the "back way" through the Mohave preserve and what a scenic view it was! Brilliant lit hills and crags thanks to the rising sun and not a soul in sight. A fine alternative to the Interstate let me tell you, especially with storm and snow in the forecast threatening to close the interstate. I arrived that afternoon, checked into my room at the Silveron and cashed out my $150 in free slot play then headed to Emerald Island casino.
As a Palm Springs denizen, I am used to the warm but offset by the cold, so anything "40s" or "50s" is a cold snap by my standard. The LVA coupons proved invaluable this occasion although there is less value then in the past. In any case, I enjoyed the trip to Emerald Island and Rainbow Club for the LVA wheel spin and half-off dining coupon. Thanks to that, I was able to enjoy a sumptuous steak dinner for less than $10. Here is what I discovered, but use your own math if you want. One dollar of expected loss is five dollars in to-go menu value after figuring tax and the $1 to-go charge. In other words, if the menu price is $9.99, two dollars in expected loss will cover the meal even with tax and the to-go charge.
After the wheel spin at Rainbow Club, I ended up $50 behind but figured "nah, what the heck" since the royal flush on that quarter machine was at $3,000 dollars. Statistically a good play (plus the 25x multiplier), plus I was able to eat at Triple B's for free. Again, see my math above for how I figure value at Rainbow Club and Emerald Island, but Needless to say, I am getting an excellent deal. The dinner was delicious and it was back to the Hotel to get some sleep.
Good morning Friday! I took a drive to Peppermill and enjoyed the lounge while finding some excellent video poker at the bar they have there. For me, it was 4.25 a hand (neverminding the $20 you could bet) on the deuces wild that did it for me, and I readily had free coffee, drinks, and mocktails coming to me without cost at that rate. I'd call that a "buy." I hear their coffee is 8 bucks otherwise, so I definitely got a good deal! I got a royal flush with deuces to put me a few bucks ahead and then left with a tip. A great start! The "D" wasn't as nice, and I lost $40 quickly, but that's the way it is someties. Then came a visit to the "Torrey Pines Pub" which is an Eagles hangout, and I was well appertained by the bartender for my entire time on their by-bar standards generous deuces wild. I lost $10, then went to one of their two arcade machines, and survived to stage 10 to eke out a winner for the day! Then it was off to Sporting Life Bar for their double-or-nothing dine-in special thnaks to LVA and I bet $10 twice and promptly lost it all before asking foe the philly cheese steak, which was delicious. Then it was off to another small tavern to earn 100 points to get $10 (thanks to the LVA newsletter) then off to my room for a hearty dinner and some rest.
I'm an early riser, so my drive to Peppermill was hassle-free. Again, I bet 4.25 a ahnd and was treated like royalty! Free coffee, drinks, whatever I could surmise while the mathematician in me figured 1 1/2 c per hand in expected loss. As long as I was there at the video poker contemplatively, I could expect no more than $5 for a bottomless coffee pot, well/shelf drinks and mocktails as long as I wanted. Score! This was a highlight of my time in Las Vegas, and I certainly got my fair share of attention from their Staff and others for betting at that level! After my bottomless cofffee, I again headed to the "D," valeted my car, and got back the $40 I lost at video poker and then some because I got the "SPIN" at wheel of fortune. I also used the matchplay coupon and won. It was then a walk around freemont street to redeeem coupons and after going to El Cortez, "D", Plaza, Golden Gate, I came out ahead thanks to a "Say hi to Matthew!" at Circa, which can be used twice.
My next venure was at South Point, which has great Video Poker. One of their casino hosts booked my a six night stay with dining credit and slot points, so I was ready to dive in! At the beginning, I lost almost a hundred dollars on deuces wild, and then four hundred more on a combination of deuces wild and spin poker, but I chalked that up to bad luck and figured I'd make that upon the back end, so to speak. I checked into my hotel room for a six night comped stay with dining and slot credit, then found myself fast asleep.
The next morning, I was awake at 6 AM and went straight to Peppermill for another try at their deuces wild. There was a change though, and no longer could you bet $20 at a time or $10 at a time, as hey turned the bet level down (could it have been me??). That's okay since 5 dollars is enogh (I was betting $5.50 per hand at one pont before the change) and I finished $30 dollars in the red with a bottomless pot of coffee, mocktails, and drinks if I wanted it, so a good all-around play. Then I went to the D, finished even at the video poker at VUE bar, and then left for the "Big Dog's," which did not treat me well. The bartender said "FINALLY!" when I got four of a kind and could therefore get the LVA coupon for $15, but I had spent close to a hundred dollars to get it! I also went to a thirft store nearby to look for a sweather, and was able to find a John Ashworth knit for cheap....
The South Pount was fantastic. I was checked into a room on a high floor and had six days booked totally free thanks to "CATHY" casino vip host. The room was excellent and I appreciated the amenities. My first stint at south point was disappointing as I had almost lost 500 dollars, but I would make up for it later! The bowling alley opened my eyes and I couldn't wait to get going as I wanted to beat my "182" record with six strikes in a row.... Would this be it? The answer was a resounding "NO" as I bowled a two-digit score to break my record for worst game and then quit. Needless to say I was disappointed when I saw my score with a huge smattering of open frames.
The next day was another visit to Emerald Island thanks to LVA for a wheel spin and half-off entree. I was at the double double bonus but had lost quite a bit to get the wheel spon but was treated to a sumptuous meal thanks to their 25 times multipler that day. The portionus were HUGE and I had room left over so I can say I was satistied despite losing close to 150 dollars. My luck would change in a stunning way at Rainbow club where I would be dealt four of a kind and get deuces wild 3 times to finish almost 700 dollars above my starting point for a handsome profit. I ate at the Triple B and the entire cost was covered by points, including the LVA wheel spin where I won 50 dollars.
Next morning was Peppermill again since I thought I could enjoy a bottomleess pot of coffee for cheap even at 4.25 a spin, but alas they got rid of the 20 per spin and 10 per spin poker and one could only bet $5 per spin strangely enough. No matter as I was under the limit and enjoed their coffee which I understand is over 6 dollars with tip if you're not gambling at the lounge. After not too long and with a $10 profit, I went back to D, broke even, and then did a "say high to Matthew" again at Circa for a match play chip and won $50! (This is not advertised, you must say "say hi to mathhew" to get the match chip and it is not in the Advisor.) Then it was off to Crown and Anchor for their $25 match play and meal. They have bonus poker ther (7/5) and it was a good deal considering, bugt I had to ask for the $25 and initally they woul;dn't give it to me but whne I said "Anthony Curtis," they gave it to me right away.
The Crown and Anchor meal and play-and-get was great. I enjoyed reading through their menu without that "c'mon, keep playing" imperative.
